Positions to Upgrade in the Off-Season

Areas to Upgrade (select any/all that apply)

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DropKickFlutie

DropKickFlutie

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There’s still an outside shot the Pats make the playoffs and I hope it happens, but in either case this team has areas of personnel improvement, not to mention on the coaching staff.

Which areas warrant an upgrade in the off-season via FA or Draft?

A couple thoughts:
  • OLine was a disaster both in talent and coaching. Need to fix this first because there is no passing game without pass protection.
  • I personally think the defense still needs to fix MLB and NT for a more solid run defense. Also needs to get a stud FS to replace DMcCourty in the pass-happy NFL.
  • I know people want to keep chasing WRs but we saw how it was a waste of a trade and draft pick with Parker and Thornton. This team already has too many underused pass-catchers in Agholor, Parker, Thornton, Meyers, Bourne, Henry, Jonnu Smith, and Mondre/Harris. I hate the risky, inefficient vertical offense, and would rather the Pats spread the ball around to 8 receivers a game via quick passes, high completion rates, a lot of power-runs, and aim to generate 25+ first downs a game and own the clock.
  • I put in some coaching options too. I would replace the entire offensive staff except for Sunseri (RBs are solid) and Troy. Nick Caley, Joe Judge, Evan Rothstein, and Matt Patricia should go coach HS or college football, they have zero business coaching NFL-caliber offense.
  • Positions that are not a need…CBs and RBs have a bright future, TE has expensive contracts we cannot move, and OLB/Edge is solid. And I think QB can be turned around with better offensive coaching. Also offensive guard would presumably not be a need.
 
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I'm starting to wonder about the WR coach. Troy Brown - love the player, as a coach????

I wouldn't mind a 6'2" corner that can play, also.
 
sg14 said:
I'm starting to wonder about the WR coach. Troy Brown - love the player, as a coach????

I wouldn't mind a 6'2" corner that can play, also.
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recall Troy did a nice job with Meyers and Bourne in 2021. not much with chuck it up guys like Parker or Agholor
Marcus Jones looks awesome as a punt returner, that’s also Troy
 
chevss454 said:
Easy for me.
1. OC
2. OL coach
3. QB coach
4. OT. Xs 2
5. FS
Then fill in as needed.
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I could get behind this. Makes sense. The only reason I listed FS is I love DMac but he’s near retirement. The secondary needs an elite FS replacement since the NFL is so pass happy with a lot of WRs who threaten with explosive plays
 
As is evidenced by this Bengals game, this defense just doesn’t have the horses. Need to upgrade MLB, NT, and FS in my opinion. Weak up the middle. Joe Burrow is 10 for 10 so far and hasn’t broken a sweat.

edit - Burrow has 280 passing yards and 3 TDs by halftime. Picking on Bentley all game. Too easy.
 
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Fire Patricia, Rothstein, Judge, Caley immediately. 1st and goal at the 6 and screw it up. CLEAN HOUSE !!!
 
Interesting to see 2 votes for offensive guard. Anyone who voted that way care to elaborate?
Onwenu is a pro bowl talent and they just blew a 1st on Strange
 
DropKickFlutie said:
Interesting to see 2 votes for offensive guard. Anyone who voted that way care to elaborate?
Onwenu is a pro bowl talent and they just blew a 1st on Strange
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Me. Your Strange hatred is way off base. You can dislike the round, but the player is good and will keep getting better.

Focus on John Carrol folks that have little to none influence anymore. Research them. Where are their middle school football records.


Get moving @DropKickFlutie. You have work to do.
 
The receiving talent is weird. We are full of WRs and TEs who put up better numbers and played better on their former teams. That used to almost never happen and it would typically be ex-Pats going off to suck elsewhere.

Makes me think talent isn't the issue. These guys aren't HoFers or anything but Jonnu, Hunter, Parker, Nelson, etc. are all talented guys who have done nothing since arriving in NE.

Not sure I trust this staff to pick and utilize other guys at this point, so may as well roll with what we have and fix the rest.
 
mooseontheloose said:
The receiving talent is weird. We are full of WRs and TEs who put up better numbers and played better on their former teams. That used to almost never happen and it would typically be ex-Pats going off to suck elsewhere.

Makes me think talent isn't the issue. These guys aren't HoFers or anything but Jonnu, Hunter, Parker, Nelson, etc. are all talented guys who have done nothing since arriving in NE.

Not sure I trust this staff to pick and utilize other guys at this point, so may as well roll with what we have and fix the rest.
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Talent is not the issue. It’s why I am not for chasing more WRs. Its a crappy offensive coaching issue.
This team wasted 6 talented WR/TE players this year
 
Why is QB not an option? :coffee:

After bookend tackles, a true #1 WR is needed. Coverage MLB. DT/NT. Another Marcus Jones type player would be awesome. One that can play for offense, defense, and, ST. Punter is another need.

Obviously the offensive coaches need to be upgraded.
 
Big/Sky/Fly said:
Why is QB not an option? :coffee:

After bookend tackles, a true #1 WR is needed. Coverage MLB. DT/NT. Another Marcus Jones type player would be awesome. One that can play for offense, defense, and, ST. Punter is another need.

Obviously the offensive coaches need to be upgraded.
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figured with Zappe here was set for the next 15 yrs. jk
 
mooseontheloose said:
The receiving talent is weird. We are full of WRs and TEs who put up better numbers and played better on their former teams. That used to almost never happen and it would typically be ex-Pats going off to suck elsewhere.

Makes me think talent isn't the issue. These guys aren't HoFers or anything but Jonnu, Hunter, Parker, Nelson, etc. are all talented guys who have done nothing since arriving in NE.

Not sure I trust this staff to pick and utilize other guys at this point, so may as well roll with what we have and fix the rest.
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DropKickFlutie said:
Talent is not the issue. It’s why I am not for chasing more WRs. Its a crappy offensive coaching issue.
This team wasted 6 talented WR/TE players this year
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The problem I see with our WRs is how similar they are to each other. Sure, Tyquan and Agholor are a little faster but they aren't targeted often in explosive plays which nullifies their speed.
Tyquan isn't ready yet and Agholor is who he has been his entire career. He's not getting better.

Here's the problem I see. Meyers, Bourne and Parker are roughly the same guy - 6'2", 210, have average speed and they're average route runners. Meyers is the best of the 3 at getting open because he runs the routes correctly. Bourne has natural ability but he makes too many route running mistakes to be trusted. We've all seen the spacing issues this year and most of the time Bourne is the guy who created that problem. That's why he he hasn't gotten on the field more. And Parker was misused early on go routes. So with a few exceptions, these 3, Meyers, Bourne and Parker are the same guy. None are a WR1.

How can a WR1 help?
Consider:
Josh Allen: instantly makes a huge leap in Year 3 when he gets Stefon Diggs
Jalen Hurts: instantly makes a huge leap in Year 3 when he gets AJ Brown
Tua: instantly makes a huge leap in Year 3 when he gets Tyreek Hill (and bc of Tyreek, Waddle has become a background player)
Kyler Murray: instantly makes a huge leap & actually looks legit when he gets Deandre Hopkins (and a huge contract)
TB12: set records with Moss in 2007

A true WR1 makes all the difference. Their play making ability pulls coverage and elevates everyone else, including the QB and the running game. That's why I think the Pats will eventually need a true WR1 for our QB to take a leap.

I also think we need a Slot guy in the mold of Edelman/Welker as a dependable check down guy and security blanket. Guys with that kind of short area quickness can always get open for a nice gain. We're missing that right now.
 
chevss454 said:
The problem I see with our WRs is how similar they are to each other. Sure, Tyquan and Agholor are a little faster but they aren't targeted often in explosive plays which nullifies their speed.
Tyquan isn't ready yet and Agholor is who he has been his entire career. He's not getting better.

Here's the problem I see. Meyers, Bourne and Parker are roughly the same guy - 6'2", 210, have average speed and they're average route runners. Meyers is the best of the 3 at getting open because he runs the routes correctly. Bourne has natural ability but he makes too many route running mistakes to be trusted. We've all seen the spacing issues this year and most of the time Bourne is the guy who created that problem. That's why he he hasn't gotten on the field more. And Parker was misused early on go routes. So with a few exceptions, these 3, Meyers, Bourne and Parker are the same guy. None are a WR1.

How can a WR1 help?
Consider:
Josh Allen: instantly makes a huge leap in Year 3 when he gets Stefon Diggs
Jalen Hurts: instantly makes a huge leap in Year 3 when he gets AJ Brown
Tua: instantly makes a huge leap in Year 3 when he gets Tyreek Hill (and bc of Tyreek, Waddle has become a background player)
Kyler Murray: instantly makes a huge leap & actually looks legit when he gets Deandre Hopkins (and a huge contract)
TB12: set records with Moss in 2007

A true WR1 makes all the difference. Their play making ability pulls coverage and elevates everyone else, including the QB and the running game. That's why I think the Pats will eventually need a true WR1 for our QB to take a leap.

I also think we need a Slot guy in the mold of Edelman/Welker as a dependable check down guy and security blanket. Guys with that kind of short area quickness can always get open for a nice gain. We're missing that right now.
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with so many holes on the rest of the roster, still want to chase another WR? Team will keep declining chasing the same position every year and wasting FA $ or draft picks. They already have the #2 spent highest WR group and #1 most expensive TE group. Just burned a 2nd for Thornton.

I think with a fixed OLine (and zero upgrades to WR) and Bill O’Brien back, in 2023 Mac can put up something like 3500-4000 yards, 25-30 TDs, <10 INTs, and complete almost 70% of passes. That’d be good enough I think, paired with a rebolstered defense.
 
DropKickFlutie said:
with so many holes on the rest of the roster, still want to chase another WR? Team will keep declining chasing the same position every year and wasting FA $ or draft picks. They already have the #2 spent highest WR group and #1 most expensive TE group. Just burned a 2nd for Thornton.

I think with a fixed OLine (and zero upgrades to WR) and Bill O’Brien back, in 2023 Mac can put up something like 3500-4000 yards, 25-30 TDs, <10 INTs, and complete almost 70% of passes. That’d be good enough I think, paired with a rebolstered defense.
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Yes if you get a WR with explosive quickness. It would open up the offense for Jones. Just look at impact of Marcus jones on offense.
 
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